Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's English vs western

Just finished up with a 3 day clinic for Pony Club at my place. The differences from past western clinics that I have hosted is interesting. Pony club is pretty cut and dry for equipment, grooming, leg, hand etc. ( pony club is to 26 yrs old and horse masters is over 26 so not all kids) Rider position is the main focus. It always looks to me like english is trying to pull the horses head in half with the bit, but a light contact is what was stressed. Neat to see how this young kid coached the girls and women on how to slow down horses that wind up and ones that balk. Both disciplines have their strong points. I learned a thing or two just running a rake and standing for 3 days in the rain.
For any of you guys that think polygamy would be nice just host something like this and get a feel what having a bunch of wives would be like...
Ready for a quiet and hopefully dry weekend so I can get some saddle time in

wow..i feel your pain. here's to a quiet weekend on the trail!!!

Geez, you're not supposed to get all your wives in the same place!

I rode western for years before I got into English and hunter/jumper. It made me a much better rider.

I grew up on horses and almost all of it was western or bareback. I did a little English and can honestly say that it takes a better rider to do it right without that big saddle to hold you in place. English takes better balance and a better awareness of the horse. OTOH, English is more apt to get you hurt when things go south.

As a youngster I was brought up riding western and military. Granddad was in the U.S. Cavalry during World II and I must say riding with a McClellan and a military seat made me a better horseman,

Another lady that the club has as an instructor is British and has ridden Badmitten a couple of times. I have taken a few lessons from her over the last couple of years and have benefited from it. It's also fun to have Mary Poppins yelling instructions to you that almost need translating. pop over that oscar, mind the horse over the wonky log. Dan Dan Dan Dan are you deaf? (I wear hear aids yes, but am trying for a five Dan address)